IB Physics SL C.3.3 Refractive Index Question Bank

Practise IB Physics SL C.3.3 by using n = c/v, comparing wavelength and speed between media, and interpreting fibre and lens data.

Exam points

Calculate refractive index from light speed, wavelength or refraction measurements.
Explain why frequency stays fixed while speed and wavelength change in a new medium.
Interpret graded-index fibres or dispersion using refractive-index variation.

[Maximum number: 2]

A group of students is investigating refraction in a semi-circular glass block.

Light from a ray box enters the curved side of the block. The light passes through the block and leaves, refracted, at P .

They plot a graph of the variation with the sine of $\theta_{i}$ of the sine of $\theta_{r}$ .
They add uncertainty bars for $\sin \theta_{r}$ for the first and last data point and draw the best-fit line.

$Figure for Question C.3.3—Refractive index question 1 — IB Physics SL$

Determine the value of the refractive index of the glass with its absolute uncertainty.

States gradient gives the value of the refractive index

OR

n=1.5 $n=1.5 \pm 0.2$

MP1 can be shown as an equation.

Candidates may calculate the uncertainty by using the gradient of the line found in cii) or finding the average of the max and min lines of best fit.

Look for working leading to $0.1 \leq \Delta n \leq 0.2$ .

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